1 of 4 | An estimated 67 shipping containers fell from the Mississippi on Tuesday morning. Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard/Release
Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Dozens of shipping containers plunged from a cargo ship into waters at a southeastern California port on Tuesday morning, according to officials, who said a unified command center has been erected to respond.
All cargo operations at Pier G at the Port of Long Beach, just south of Los Angeles, were temporarily suspended to ensure safety amid the response, the port said.
Dramatic, uncorroborated video of the incident, shared online, shows dozens of burgundy cargo containers already floating on the ocean as additional stacks of containers lean over the side of the vessel before tumbling into the sea.
Video published online by U.S. Coast Guard Northern California also shows containers falling from the vessel onto the dock.
